Dehydrogenation catalyst

ABSTRACT

Magnesium chromites promoted with B, Si, Sn, Pb and Se have been found to be superior to chromia-alumina type dehydrogenation catalysts, for example, in the dehydrogenation of n-butane. The promoter is either added to the preformed magnesium chromite or is incorporated into the spinel structure of the chromite itself or added in both ways. The promoter will be present in the catalyst from all sources in a mol ration of promoter : MgCr 2  O 4  of 0.001 to 0.25. The ratio will more usually be 0.03 to 0.08 : 1 promoter : MgCr 2  O 4 .

This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 593,725 filed July 7,1975, which was a division of Ser. No. 515,328, filed Oct. 16, 1974,both now abandoned.

This invention relates to a process for the dehydrogenation of gaseoushydrocarbons and the catalyst employed. More specifically the process isa cyclic process wherein there are alternating cycles of dehydrogenationand catalyst regeneration.

The process is a cyclic process in which gaseous hydrocarbons such asbutane or isopentenes are dehydrogenated over a suitable catalyst toproduce butenes and butadiene and isopentane and isoprene respectively.After each dehydrogenation cycle there is a catalyst regeneration cyclein which the accumulated coke is burned off by passing molecular oxygenthrough the catalyst followed by another dehydrogenation cycle and soon.

The chromia-alumina catalysts have been recognized for a number of yearsas the most preferred catalyst for this type of process. Thechromiaalumina catalysts are prepared by treating activated alumina witha solution of chromic acid, draining off the excess acid from thealumina, drying and heat treating at about 1400° F. Commercialchromia-alumina dehydrogenation catalysts normally contain about 20%chromium oxide. Preparative methods are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,399,678 and 2,419,997.

Other chromia-metal oxide materials have been investigated for theirdehydrogenation capabilities. One of the more prominent among these hasbeen chromia-magnesia which has been found to be a poor second tochromiaalumnia. Several patents were issued to Tropsch in the late1930's relating to magnesia based chromia dehydrogenation catalysts,e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,122,786; 2,122,787; 2,122,790; and 2,148,140.Pitzer disclosed chromia-magnesia-alumina dehydrogenation catalyst inU.S. Pat. No. 2,638,455. U.S. Pat. No. 3,781,376 discloses a superiordehydrogenation catalyst of an aluminum promoted magnesium chromite. Itis an object of the present invention to find an alternative catalyst tochromia-alumina for use in cyclic dehydrogenation processes. It isanother object of the present invention to find a catalyst superior tothe chromia-alumina caalysts for use in dehydrogenation. It is still afurther object to provide a process which will give better results thanpresently achieved with chromia-alumina catalysts. It is a particularobject to provide improved magnesium chromite catalysts. Other objectsand advantages of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the present invention lies in a dehydrogenation catalystconsisting essentially of magnesium chromite or an aluminum promotedmagnesium chromite and a promoting amoung of boron, silicon, tin, leadand selenium. A promoting amount may be from 0.001 to 0.25 mol per molof magnesium chromite or more preferably 0.03 to 0.08 mol per mol ofMgCr₂ O₄. Improvement in the dehydrogenation process employing thesepromoted catalysts is also an aspect of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The objects of the present invention have been achieved by use of anovel catalyst containing chromium, magnesium, a promoter selected fromthe group consisting of boron, silicon, tin, lead, selenium and oxygen.The catalysts may also contain aluminum. The catalysts are characterizedas magnesium chromites either in admixture with the promoter orcontaining the promoter therein. Similarly, the chromites may be inadmixture with aluminum oxide or containing aluminum therein. Thechromites generally have a spinel structure. This can be attributed tothe octahedral site preference energy of Cr³⁺ which is the greatest ofall cations which can form spinel-type structures. The crystal structureof the chromites will usually be a face centered cubic form.

The catalysts of the present invention are pedominately chromites, thatis, they contain more than 50% by weight of the chromite. Preferably thecatalysts contain 75% or more chromites, i.e. 90% chromites. The presentchromites may be represented by the formula MgCr₂ O₄.

The aluminum component of the catalyst may also be present as aconstituent of the chromite, however, it is not necessary that thealuminum be a portion of the chromite and may be present in addition tothe metal chromite in the form of aluminum oxide. The aluminum can beincorporated into the chromite by backing out a portion of the chromium.Aluminum can be substituted for up to less than 50% of the chromiumatoms of the chromite. Such chromites have the formula MgAl_(x) Cr_(2-x)O₄ where x is a number of from more than 0 up to less than 1.

The magnesium chromites of the present invention exhibit a certain typeof X-ray diffraction pattern. The peaks observed in the X-raydiffraction pattern may not have sharp peaks such as those found, e.g.,in highly crystalline material of the same chemical composition, but canand do frequently exhibit relatively broad reflection peaks. The degreeof sharpness of the reflection peak may be measured by the reflectionpeak band width at half height (W/h/2). In other words, the width of thereflection peak as measured at one-half of the distance to the top ofthe peak is the "band width at half height." The band width at halfheight is measured in units of °2 theta. Techniques for measuring theband widths are discussed, e.g., in Chapter 9 of Klug and Alexander,X-ray Diffraction Procedures, John Wiley and Son, N.Y., 1954. Theobserved band widths at half height of the preferred compositions ofthis invention are at least 0.12° 2 theta and normally will be at least0.16° 2 theta*. The particular reflection peak used to measure the bandwidth at one-half height is the reflection peak having Miller (hkl)indices of 111. (See, e.g., Chapter of Klug and Alexander, ibid). Thisdescription is not to be taken as a limitation of the invention inregard to the relationship between composition activity and band width.

Suitable catalyst according to this invention are magnesium chromitehaving X-ray diffraction peaks within the d-spacings 4.80-4.82,2.94-2.96, 2.50-2.52, 2.40-2.42, 2.07-2.09, 1.90-1.92, 1.69-1.71,1.59-1.61, 1.46-1.48, 1.40-1.42, and the most intense peaks beingbetween 2.50-2.52.

Chromite formation can be accomplished by reacting an active compound ofchromium with an active compound of magnesium. By active compound ismeant a compound which is reactive under the conditions to form thechromite. Starting compounds of chromium and magnesium may be such asthe nitrates, hydroxides, hydrates, oxalates, carbonates, acetates,formates, halides, oxides, etc.

The catalyst may contain an excess of chromium over the stoichiometricamount, which is 2 atoms of chromium per atom of Mg, (MgCr₂ O₄). Theremay be from 10 to 200 percent excess of the chromium. Similarly, the Mgportion of the chromite may be present in more than a stoichiometricamount.

The magnesium chromite can be prepared by precipitation, dry or wetmilling or mixing, by precipitation of one of the ingredients in thepresence of the other, coprecipitation and impregnation of one or moreof the solid ingredients with aqueous or non-aqueous solutions of saltof the ingredients.

One particularly useful method of preparing the magnesium chromites hasbeen by coprecipitation from an aqueous solution. Soluble metal salts ofchromium and magnesium component as described above are dissolved inwater and an insoluble precipitate formed by the use of a precipitatingagent.

Soluble metal salts are known for essentially all metals. In specificregard to the metal components of the present invention the followingsoluble metal compounds are illustrative: chromium (III) nitrate,magnesium chloride and aluminum sulfate. The precipitating agent iswhich, when reacted with the appropriate metal ion or mixtures of ionsin solution, forms an insoluble compound which can be converted to thechromite. The alkali and alkaline earth hydroxides such as NaOH, KOH,CaOH, as well as ammonium hydroxide cause the precipitation of the metalhydroxides which are converted on heating to the chromites. After theprecipitate is washed and dried it is calcined to form the chromite.

The formation of the chromite is obtained by heating the prcipitates orother intimate mixture of chromite precursors at an elevatedtemperature, e.g., 400°-1100° C. (generally no greater than 1300° C.),in a controlled atmosphere, i.e., air, nitrogen, helium, a reducingatmosphere such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide or the like, for asufficient time, i.e., usually 5 minutes to 4 hours. A calcinationtemperature of 550°-800° C. has been found particularly useful andtemperatures in the range of 600°-750° C. have been found to produceexcellent catalysts. Catalysts prepared at 900°-1100° C. have also beefound to be highly desirable.

The aluminum component of the catalyst, if any, may be added prior toand/or after the calcination and formation of the chromite. The aluminumcomponent is conveniently added to the chromite as a soluble salt in aslurry with the chromite after which it is dried, then decomposed byheating to aluminum oxide. Alternatively, insoluble aluminum oxide,hydroxide or oxyhydroxide can be added to the magnesium chromite,preferably in a highly divided state. Yet another desirable way to placethe aluminum in the catalyst is by coprecipitation of aluminum hydroxidewith the Me hydroxide and chromium hydroxide.

The aluminum will be present in the catalyst in all forms in an atomicratio of Al:Cr of 0.0004 to 1.2:1. For example, in terms of a solublealuminum compound such as aluminum sulfate added to the magnesiumchromite, this would represent from about 0.1 to 75 weight percent Al₂(SO₄) ₃.16H₂ O based on the total weight of the catalyst. A morepreferred range of Al:Cr atom ratio is 0.04 to 0.8:1. Generally thehigher weight percentages of aluminum compound, i.e., 50 weight percentor more, are applied to the magnesium chromites having high surfaceareas, e.g., 50m² per gram or more.

The promoter selected from the group consisting of B, Si, Sn, Pb, and Semay be added to either the preformed MgCr₂ O₄ or to the precursorthereof. The same techniques described above for incorporating Al intothe chromites may be used to incorporate these promoters. It has notbeen determined whether any of the promoter is incorporated into thecrystalline structure of the chromite or if incorporated, how much.Insofar as the present invention is concerned, this aspect of themechanism is not essential to the operation of the invention. It issummized that a portion of the promoter may be incorporated into thecrystalline structure of the MgCr₂ O₄ ; however, a larger amount of thepromoter is probably also present as the uncombined oxide. These viewsof the possible combined nature of the promoter and magnesium chromiteare not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

The active catalysts can be pelleted or applied to a suitable supportsuch as alumina, silica gel, silica-alumina, firebrick, kieselguhr,quartz and the like. The catalyst is the active surface available forcontact with the gaseous reactants.

The catalysts of this invention can be applied to the dehydrogenation ofa wide variety of organic compounds. Such compounds normally willcontain from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, at least one ##STR1## grouping,having a boiling point below about 350° C., and may contain otherelements in addition to carbon and hydrogen such as oxygen, halogens,nitrogen and sulfur. Preferred are compounds having 2 to 12 carbonatoms, and especially preferred are compounds of 3 to 5 carbon atoms.

Representative materials which are dehydrogenated by the novel processof this invention include n-butane, methyl butane, methyl butenes, ethyltoluene, alkyl chlorobenzenes, ethyl benzene, ethyl naphthalene,isobutyronitrile, propyl chloride, isobutyl chloride, ethyl fluoride,ethyl bromide, n-pentyl iodide, ethyl dichloride, 1,3-dichlorobutane,1,4dichlorobutane, the chlorofluoroethanes, methyl pentanes, methylethylketone, diethyl ketone, n-butyl alcohol, methyl propionate, and thelike.

Among the types of organic compounds which may be dehydrogenated bymeans of the process of this invention are nitriles, amines, alkylhalides, ethers, esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, acids, alkylaromatic compounds, alkyl heterocyclic compounds, cycloalkanes, alkanes,alkenes and the like.

Suitable dehydrogenation reactions are the following: acyclic compoundshaving 4 to 5 non-quaternary contiguous carbon atoms to thecorresponding olefins, diolefins or acetylenes having the same number ofcarbon atoms; aliphatic hydrocarbons having 6 to 16 carbon atoms and atleast one quaternary carbon atom to aromatic compounds, such as 2, 4,4-trimethylpentene-1 to a mixture of xylenes; acyclic compounds having 6to 16 carbon atoms and no quaternary carbon atoms to aromatic compoundssuch as n-hexenes to benzene: cycloparaffins and cycloolefins having 5to 8 carbon atoms to the corresponding olefin, diolefin or aromaticcompound, e.g., cyclohexane to cyclohexene or cyclohexadiene or benzene;aromatic compounds having 8 to 12 carbon atoms including one or twoalkyl side chains of 2 to 3 carbon atoms to the corresponding aromaticwith unsaturated side chain such as ethyl benzene to styrene.

Illustration of dehydrogenations include butane to butenes andbutadiene; propionitrile to acrylonitrile; propionaldehyde to acrolein;ethyl chloride to vinyl chloride; methyl isobutyrate to methylmethacylate; 2 or 3 -chlorobutene-1 or 2,3-dichlorobutane tochloroprene; ethyl pyridine to vinyl pyridine; ethylbenzene to styrene;isopropylbenzene to α-methyl styrene; ethylchlorohexane to styrene;cyclohexane to benzene; ethane to ethylene to acetylene; propane topropylene or methyl acetylene, allene, or benzene; isobutane toisobutylene; n-butane to butene and butadiene-1,3; n-butene tobutadiene-1,3 and vinyl acetylene; methyl butenes to isoprene;cyclopentane to cyclopentene and cyclopentadiene-1, 3; n-octane to ethylbenzene and ortho-xylene; monomethylheptanes to xylenes; ethyl acetateto vinyl acetate; 2, 4, 4-trimethylpentane to xylenes; and the like.

The preferred compounds to be dehydrogenated are hydrocarbons with aparticularly preferred class being acyclic non-quaternary hydrocarbonshaving 3 to 5 carbon atoms or ethyl benzene and the preferred productsare propene, n-butene-1 or 2, butadiene-1,3, vinyl acetylene,2-methyl-1-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 3-methyl-2-butene, isoprene,styrene or mixtures thereof. Especially preferred as feed are n-butene-1or 2 and the methyl butenes and mixtures thereof such as hydrocarbonmixtures containing these compounds in at least 50 mol percent.

The dehydrogenation reaction may be carried out at atmospheric pressure,superatmospheric pressure or at sub-atmospheric pressure. The totalpressure of the system will normally be about atmospheric pressure orsub-atmospheric pressure. Generally the total pressure will be betweenabout 1 p.s.i.a. and about 75 p.s.i.a. Preferably the total pressurewill be less than about 50 p.s.i.a.

The temperature of the dehydrogenation reaction will generally be in arange of about 350° to 700° C. with excellent results being obtained inthe range of 400° to 650° C. The gaseous reactants can be conductedthrough the reaction chamber at a fairly wide range of flow rates. Theoptimum flow rates will be dependent upon such variables as thetemperature of reaction, pressure, particle size of the catalyst, and soforth. Desirable flow rates may be established by one skilled in theart. Generally the flow rates will be within the range of about 0.10 to10 liquid volumes of the organic compound to be dehydrogenated pervolume of dehydrogenation zone containing catalyst per hour (referred toas LHSV). Usually the LHSV will be between 0.15 and about 5. Forcalculation, the volume of a fixed bed dehydrogenation zone containingcatalyst is that original void volume of reactor space containingcatalyst.

The dehydrogenation is carried out in a series of cycles which comprisedehydrogenation of a suitable feed over the catalysts of the inventionunder the conditions as defined for a period of time, usually about 6 to12 minutes followed by a regeneration cycle during which the cokedeposited from the dehydrogenation is burnt off. The regeneration can belonger or shorter than the dehydrogenation cycle as needed to remove thecoke, usually about 6 to 12 minutes will be sufficient. The coke isremoved by passing oxygen at a temperature of 550° to 650° C. over thecatalyst. A convenient source of oxygen is air, however, pure oxygen ora mixture of oxygen with inert gases, such as nitrogen, either in thesame or different proportions as air, can be used.

The following Examples which are submitted to demonstrate the operationof the invention are carried out at atmospheric pressure, i.e., about 15p.s.i.a. The presence of the chromite structure was established for thecatalysts by X-ray analysis as described previously. in the Examplespercents are by weight except that results are given as mole percents.Analysis of the products was by gas-liquid chromatography.

ISOTHERMAL ATMOSPHERIC REACTOR

The reactor was a 29 × 3/4 inch Vycor tube equipped with a heatingmantle and appropriate equipment. A 40 cc bed of catalyst was placed inthe reactor and reactant feed (or regenerative air) added at the bottomof the reactor with product coming off overhead. The catalyst was heatedto the reaction temperature in a nitrogen atmosphere. The process wascarried out automatically with a make cycle (dehydrogenation) of 9minutes and 9 minutes regeneration and repeat of the cycle. This gave atotal cycle time of 18 minutes. When desired, the partial pressure ofthe n-butane during the reaction cycle was reduced below atmospheric bydilution with nitrogen. The total effluent from either or both cycleswas collected in an inflatable collecting device and analyzed by gaschromatography. Alternately, the effluent from the regeneration cyclewas passed through a calibrated infrared analyzer to determine theamount of CO₂ produced during regeneration (coke burn-off). By eithermethod of analysis the amount of coke deposited on a catalyst during thereaction cycle was determined and could be taken into account whencalculating the overall activity and selectivity of a catalyst. Thetemperatures were controlled by a thermoelectric temperature controllerand recorded on a Leeds and Northrup 24-point recorder.

EXAMPLES 1-3 Catalyst Preparation

1. MgCr₂ O₄ no promoter

Reagents

1. Magnesium carbonate (Marinco CL, Merck Chem. Div., Merck & Co., Inc.,Rahway, N.J., Assay as MgO = 43.0%).

2. hydrous chromium (III) oxide; Assay as Cr₂ O₃ = 55.3%

3. baker analyzed reagent magnesium chloride, assay as MgCl₂. 6H₂ O =99.8%.

44.5 gms. of reagent (1), 137.4 gms. of reagent (2) and 5.1 gms. ofreagent (3) were slurried together for about 10 minutes in a 1 qt.Waring blender using ˜ 300 mls. of demineralized water as the slurryingmedium. The slurry was dried overnight at ˜ 120° C. The dried slurry wascrushed to sub 40 mesh particles and calcined to 800° C. in anatmosphere of N₂.

2. mgCr₂ O₄ + 0.05 mol Se

Same as procedure 1 above except that the slurry medium was composed of

3.34 gms. of Fisher Scientific Certified Selenous Acid, (Assay as H₂SeO₃ = 96.4%) dissolved in ˜ 300 mls. of demineralized water.

3. MgCr₂ O₄ + 0.05 mol Pb

Same as procedure 1 above except that the slurry medium was composed of

6.97 gms. of Baker Analyzed reagent lead chloride (Assay as PbCl₂ =99.8%) dissolved in ˜ 400 mols. of demineralized water. To this solutionwas added, dropwise and with good mixing, conc. aq. ammonia to a finalpH of ˜ 7.0.

Samples of each catalyst were prepared for testing by being deposited as50% actives on AMC support. Additional test samples were prepared bycombining 30 weight % Al₂ (SO₄)₃. 16H₂ O with the MgCr₂ O₄ anddepositing as 45% actives on AMG support.

The samples were tested as described above and the results are set outin TABLE 1.

EXAMPLES 4-6 Catalyst Preparation

Variable amounts of promoter

4. MgCr₂ O₄ + Si

The following procedure for preparing catalysts was as follows:

Tetraethylorthosilicate (Ethyl Silicate, pure, Union Carbide Chem. Co.,Div. of Union Carbide, N.Y., 17, N.Y.) was added to a solution of 250 ccof demineralized water and 50 cc of ethanol. This mixture was stirredvigorously and 0.75 cc of conc. HCl added dropwise. Stirring wascontinued while the orthosilicate was hydrolyzed -- the reaction beingconducted at room temperature. (Nearly all of the ethyl silicate washydrolyzed within about 15 minutes). After hydrolysis was complete, thesolution was transferred to a 1 qt. Waring blender. To the blender wasadded 137.4 gms. of hydrous Cr (III) oxide. (Assay as Cr₂ O₃ = 55.3),44.5 gms. of magnesium carbonate (Marinco CL, Merck Chem. Div., Merck &Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., Assay as MgO = 43.0%), and 5.1 gms. ofmagnesium chloride (Baker analyzed reagent. Assay as MgCl₂.6H₂ O =99.8%). The mixture was blended for about 10 minutes, dried overnight inan oven at ˜120° C., crushed to sub 20 mesh particles and calcined in N₂to 800° C.

                                      TABLE I                                     __________________________________________________________________________    RESULTS*                                                                      __________________________________________________________________________                                   30 Wt.% Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 . 16                                        H.sub.2 O                                      PROMOTER       S       Y           S       Y                                  __________________________________________________________________________    EX.                                                                              Type                                                                              Mol C   Bu  Bd  Bu  Bd  C   Bu  Bd  Bu  Bd                             __________________________________________________________________________    1  0   0   33.5                                                                              63.0                                                                              10.4                                                                              21.1                                                                              3.5 67.9                                                                              75.2                                                                              8.5 51.1                                                                              5.8                            2  Se  0.05                                                                              39.3                                                                              66.2                                                                              13.6                                                                              26.0                                                                              5.3 59.6                                                                              76.9                                                                              10.2                                                                              45.9                                                                              6.1                            3  Pb  0.05                                                                              51.2                                                                              70.2                                                                              15.8                                                                              35.9                                                                              8.1 58.1                                                                              74.8                                                                              15.7                                                                              43.4                                                                              9.1                            __________________________________________________________________________     *Mol % C = Conversion, S = Selectivity, Y = Yield, Y = C × S, Bu =      Butenes, Bd = Butadiene                                                  

The amount of ethyl silicate used in the preparation was as follows:

    ______________________________________                                        Preparation  Amount of ethyl silicate used in                                 No.          the preparation (gms.)                                           ______________________________________                                        4A           4.17                                                             4B           5.21                                                             4C           6.25                                                             4D           7.29                                                             ______________________________________                                    

5. mgCr₂ O₄ + Sn

Stannous chloride (Baker analyzed reagent, Assay as SnCl₂.2 H₂ O =98.0%) was dissolved in 250 cc of demineralized water acidifed withenough conc. HCl (˜ 1 cc) to yield a clear solution. To this solutionwas added dropwise and with good stirring, conc. aq. ammonia to a finalpH of >7.0 (7.1-7.2). This solution was transferred to a 1 qt. Waringblender. To the blender was added 137.4 gms. of hydrous Cr (III) oxide,(Assay as Cr₂ O₃ = 55.3), 44.5 gms. of magnesium carbonate (Marinco CL,Merck Chem. Div., Merck & Co., Inc. Rahway, N.J., Assay as MgO = 43.0%),and 5.1 gms. of MgCl₂.6 H₂ O (Baker analyzed reagent. Assay as MgCl₂.6H₂ O = 99.8%). Additional demineralized water was added as needed toyield an easily slurried mixture. The mixture was slurried for ˜ 10minutes, dried overnight at ˜ 120° C., crushed to sub 40 mesh particlesand calcined in N₂ to 800° C.

The amount of stannous chloride (see above) used in each preparation isgiven below:

    ______________________________________                                        Preparation  Amount of stannous chloride used                                 No.          in the preparation (gms.)                                        ______________________________________                                        5A           4.60                                                             5B           5.76                                                             5C           6.91                                                             5D           8.06                                                             ______________________________________                                    

6. mgCr₂ O₄ + B

Boric acid (Baker analyzed reagent, Assay as H₃ BO₃ = 99.7%) wasdissolved in 250 mls. of demineralized water and this solutiontransferred to a 1 qt. Waring blender. To the blender was then added137.4 gms. of hydrous Cr(III) oxide, (Assay as Cr₂ O₃ = 55.3)44.5 gms.of magnesium carbonate (Marinco CL, Merck Chem. Div., Merck & Co., Inc.,Rahway, N.J., Assay as MgO = 43.0%) and 5.1 gms. of MgCl₂.6. H₂ O (Bakeranalyzed reagent, Assay as MgCl₂.6 H₂ O = 99.8%). Additionaldemineralized water was used as needed to yield an easily slurriedmixture. The mixture was slurried for ˜ 10 minutes, dried overnight inan oven at ˜ 120° C., crushed to sub 40 mesh particles and calcined inN₂ to 800° C.

The amount of boric acid used in each preparation is given below:

    ______________________________________                                        Preparation  Amount of boric acid used in the                                 No.          preparation (gms.)                                               ______________________________________                                        6A           1.24                                                             6B           1.55                                                             6C           1.86                                                             6D           2.17                                                             ______________________________________                                    

Each catalyst prepared above was deposited on AMC support (45% actives).The tin promoted compositions were also modified with 30 weight % Al₂(SO₄)₃.16 H₂ O and deposited as 45% actives on AMC. The catalystcompositions were tested as described above. The results of testing areset out below in TABLE II.

                                      TABLE II                                    __________________________________________________________________________    RESULTS                                                                       __________________________________________________________________________                                   30 Wt.% Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3.16H.sub.2                                    O                                             PROMOTER       S       Y           S       Y                                  __________________________________________________________________________    EX.                                                                              Type                                                                              Mol C   Bu  Bd  Bu  Bd  C   Bu  Bd  Bu  Bd                             __________________________________________________________________________    4 A                                                                              Si  0.04                                                                              53.6                                                                              69.6                                                                              11.7                                                                              37.3                                                                              6.3                                                B  Si  0.05                                                                              55.2                                                                              71.2                                                                              11.3                                                                              39.3                                                                              6.3                                                C  Si  0.06                                                                              59.0                                                                              68.9                                                                              13.4                                                                              40.7                                                                              7.9                                                D  Si  0.07                                                                              57.5                                                                              69.9                                                                              13.0                                                                              40.2                                                                              7.5                                                5 A                                                                              Sn  0.04                                                                              40.3                                                                              66.3                                                                              13.0                                                                              26.8                                                                              5.2 63.6                                                                              72.9                                                                              14.3                                                                              46.4                                                                              9.1                            B  Sn  0.05                                                                              45.1                                                                              68.9                                                                              14.9                                                                              31.1                                                                              6.7 64.8                                                                              72.6                                                                              14.3                                                                              47.0                                                                              9.3                            C  Sn  0.06                                                                              41.4                                                                              65.7                                                                              14.1                                                                              27.2                                                                              5.8 62.8                                                                              72.9                                                                              13.7                                                                              45.8                                                                              8.6                            D  Sn  0.07                                                                              42.2                                                                              66.5                                                                              14.6                                                                              28.1                                                                              6.2 62.5                                                                              73.4                                                                              14.0                                                                              45.9                                                                              8.8                            6 A                                                                              B   0.04                                                                              45.3                                                                              66.2                                                                              14.5                                                                              30.0                                                                              6.6                                                B  B   0.05                                                                              47.0                                                                              72.3                                                                              12.2                                                                              33.9                                                                              5.7                                                C  B   0.06                                                                              45.8                                                                              68.9                                                                              12.6                                                                              31.6                                                                              5.8                                                D  B   0.07                                                                              45.9                                                                              69.3                                                                              14.3                                                                              31.8                                                                              6.6                                                __________________________________________________________________________

The invention claimed is:
 1. A dehydrogenation catalyst consistingessentially of (1) MgCr₂ O₄ +silicon oxide, (2) MgCr₂ O₄ +silicon oxide+Al₂ O₃ or (3) MgAl_(x) Cr_(2-x) O₄ + silicon oxide, the atomic ratio ofAl:Cr being from 0.0004 to 1.2:1, x is a number of from more than 0 upto less than 1 and wherein there is 0.03 to 0.08 mol of silicon per molof MgCr₂ O₄.
 2. The dehydrogenation catalyst according to claim 1consisting essentially of MgCr₂ O₄ + silicon oxide.
 3. Thedehydrogenation catalyst according to claim 1 consisting essentially ofMgCr₂ O₄ + silicon oxide + Al₂ O₃.
 4. The dehydrogenation catalystaccording to claim 1 consisting essentially of MgAl_(x) Cr_(2-x) O₄ +silicon oxide.